Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 38:5
Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
5. The verse is greatly abbreviated from 2Ki 20:5. After Hezekiah the words “the captain of my people” are omitted; and also the sentence “I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord,” which follows the word behold. It cannot be doubted that the historical book here preserves the original text.
the God of David thy father ] for whose sake this special mercy is vouchsafed to the king (cf. ch. Isa 37:35; 2Ki 20:6).
fifteen years ] That the number was arrived at by calculation on the part of the historian is not to be believed. If there be calculation in the case at all, it is in the date of ch. Isa 36:1, which may very possibly be an inference from this prediction combined with the statement of 2Ki 18:2. (See on ch. Isa 36:1) In any case the assumption that the prophecy was exactly fulfilled is a legitimate one, and the fourteenth year of Hezekiah must be accepted as the true date of this sickness. The only question is whether the writer of ch. Isa 36:1 may not have fallen into error by supposing that the date of Hezekiah’s sickness fixed the time of Sennacherib’s invasion. On that point see the Chronological Note, pp. lxxvi f. Since the king began to reign in his twenty-fifth year, it is after all not a long life that is here promised to him. His reign was to be doubled.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The God of David thy father – David is mentioned here, probably, because Hezekiah had a strong resemblance to him 2Ki 18:3, and because a long and happy reign had been granted to David; and also because the promise had been made to David that there should not fail a man to sit on his throne (see the note at Isa 37:35). As Hezekiah resembled David, God promised that his reign should be lengthened out; and as he perhaps was then without a son and successor, God promised him a longer life, with the prospect that he might have an heir who should succeed him on the throne.
Behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years – This is perhaps the only instance in which any man has been told exactly how long he would live. Why God specified the time cannot now be known. It was, however, a full answer to the prayer of Hezekiah, and the promise is a full demonstration that God is the hearer of prayer, and that he can answer it at once. We learn here, that it is right for a friend of God to pray for life. In times of sickness, and even when there are indications of a fatal disease, it is not improper to pray that the disease may be removed, and the life prolonged. If the desire be to do good; to advance the kingdom of God; to benefit others; or to perfect some plan of benevolence which is begun, it is not improper to pray that God would prolong the life. Who can tell but that he often thus spares useful lives when worn down with toil, and when the frame is apparently sinking to the grave, in answer to prayer? He does not indeed work miracles as he did in the case of Hezekiah, but he may direct to remedies which had not before occurred; or he may himself give a sudden and unlooked-for turn to the disease, and restore the sufferer again to health.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
5. God of David thy fatherGodremembers the covenant with the father to the children (Exo 20:5;Psa 89:28; Psa 89:29).
tears (Ps56:8).
days . . . yearsMan’syears, however many, are but as so many days (Ge5:27).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Go and say to Hezekiah,…. Turn again, and tell him,
2Ki 20:5:
thus saith the Lord the God of David thy father; this is said, to show that he remembered the covenant he made with David his father, concerning the kingdom, and the succession of his children in it; and that he had a regard to him, as walking in his steps:
I have heard thy prayer; and therefore was not surely a foolish one, as Luther somewhere calls it, since it was heard and answered so quickly:
I have seen thy tears; which he shed in prayer, and so studiously concealed from others, when he turned his face to the wall:
behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years; that is, to the days he had lived already, and beyond which it was not probable, according to the nature of his disease, he could live; and besides, he had the sentence of death pronounced on him, and had it within himself, nor did he pray for his life; so that these fifteen years were over and above what he could or did expect to live; and because it was unusual in such a case, and after such a declaration made, that a man should live, and especially so long a time after, it is ushered in with a “behold”, as a note of admiration; it being a thing unheard of, and unprecedented, and entirely the Lord’s doing, and which, no doubt, was marvellous in the eyes of the king.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
5. Thus saith Jehovah the God of David thy father. At first, when he struck terror alone, he reckoned it enough to mention the bare and simple name of God, to whose heavenly judgmentseat he summoned him as a criminal; but now, when he brings consolation, he distinguishes God by a peculiar and honorable title in order to point out the cause and origin of grace; as if he had said that, from a regard to his covenant which he made with David, he is inclined to mercy, so that he does not deal rigorously with Hezekiah. (2Sa 7:12.) We know that nothing is more difficult than for hearts that have been greatly alarmed by the conviction of God’s anger to be encouraged to entertain favorable hope, so as to perceive that God is reconciled to them. That confirmation was therefore necessary, that the pious king, who in himself was ruined, might know that he could be again raised up to that life from which he had fallen; for the prophecy concerning the eternity of that kingdom could not fail. Since, therefore, he fainted when he thought that he had no hope of living, in order that he may breathe again, he is reminded of a promise, which at that time was universally known, that kings of the seed and posterity of David would always reign over the elect people,
“
as long as the sun and moon should shine in the heavens.” (Psa 89:36.)
That was the plank which he seized, and by which he escaped shipwreck.
David is not mentioned in this passage as a private individual, but as an eternal king, to whom had been committed the promise which might support Hezekiah; eternal, I say, not in himself, but in his blessed seed. Now, since that eternity was at length to be manifested in Christ, of whom Hezekiah along with other kings was a type, it must have been a solid ground of favorable hope that he was a son of David. (74) Whenever, therefore, we feel that our own sins hinder us from drawing near to God, in order that we may obtain his favor, let us think of this preface, that, although we have been estranged from him by our own fault, still he is the Father of Christ, who is our head, and
“
in whom our salvation always remains hidden.” (Col 3:3.)
In a word, God had lately spoken in the character of a judge, but now he is reconciled, and points out a Mediator who comes forth to appease him.
I have heard thy prayer. Having opened the door of hope, he tells Hezekiah that God “has heard his prayers.” This ought greatly to encourage us to earnestness in prayer; for, although God of his own accord takes a deep interest in our salvation, and anticipates us by his kindness, not only while we are asleep, but “before we were born,” (Rom 9:11,) yet, when he testifies that all the benefits which he bestows are granted in answer to our prayers, our negligence is altogether inexcusable, if, after having received such large invitations, we neglect to perform the duty of prayer, (75) And yet we must not imagine that prayers, to which God so graciously listens, are meritorious; but, in giving freely what he freely promised, he adds this as the crowning excellence of his kindness, in order more strongly to stimulate our faith. It is no ordinary privilege to be able to approach to him freely, and in a familiar manner to lay our cares in his bosom. If Hezekiah had not prayed, God would undoubtedly have secured that, in one way or another, some government of the kingdom should be preserved in the posterity of David; but what he would do from a regard to his truth, he says that he will give in answer to the prayers of Hezekiah, that he may acknowledge that he has obtained very abundant fruit from his faith which he exercised in prayer.
And I have seen thy tears. He mentions tears as a sign of repentance, and likewise of warmth and earnestness; not that in themselves tears procure favor, or have any power of appeasing God, but because they distinguish sincere prayers from those which are offered in a careless manner.
Behold, I add to thy days fifteen years. At length he adds that God has prolonged the life of Hezekiah to the extent of “fifteen years.” This might, indeed, at first sight, appear to be absurd; for we were created on the condition of not being able to pass, by a single moment, the limit marked out for us; as Job also says, “Thou hast appointed his bounds which he cannot pass.” (Job 14:5.) But the solution is easy. What is said about an extended period must be understood to refer to the views of Hezekiah, who had been excluded from the hope of life, and, therefore, must; have justly reckoned to be gain what was afterwards added, as if he had been raised up from the grave to a second life.
(74) “ Puis qu’il estoit ills et successeur de David.” “Since he was a son and successor of David.”
(75) “ Si nous ne daignons ouvrir la bouche pour prier.” “If we do not deign to open our mouth in prayer.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(5) Fifteen years.The words fix the date of the illness, taking the received chronology, as B.C. 713. The next verse shows that there was danger at the time to be apprehended from Assyria, but does not necessarily refer to Sennacheribs invasion. Sargons attack (Isa. 20:1) may have caused a general alarm.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 38:5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
Ver. 5. See 2Ki 20:5 See Trapp on “ 2Ki 20:5 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the God of David. This Divine title reminds and assures Hezekiah that Jehovah would be faithful to His promise made to David in 2Sa 7. See App-67and note on 2Ki 20:5.
fifteen years. Hence the number of the “Song of the Degrees”. See App-67.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
and say: 2Sa 7:3-5, 1Ch 17:2-4
God: Isa 7:13, Isa 7:14, 1Ki 8:25, 1Ki 9:4, 1Ki 9:5, 1Ki 11:12, 1Ki 11:13, 1Ki 15:4, 2Ch 34:3, Psa 89:3, Psa 89:4, Mat 22:32
I have heard: 2Ki 19:20, Psa 34:5, Psa 34:6, Luk 1:13, 1Jo 5:14, 1Jo 5:15
I have seen: Psa 39:12, Psa 56:8, Psa 147:3, 2Co 7:6, Rev 7:17
I will: Job 14:5, Psa 116:15, Act 27:24
Reciprocal: 2Sa 12:22 – I fasted 2Ki 20:5 – the God Job 7:1 – Is there Psa 6:8 – for Psa 116:8 – mine Ecc 3:2 – and a time Ecc 3:3 – a time to heal Isa 33:6 – wisdom Isa 39:3 – came Isaiah Lam 3:56 – hast Act 10:31 – thy